Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Book 4)
by J.K. Rowling
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Book Reviews of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Book 4)
Book Review: I found Goblet of Fire difficult to finish - 2.5 stars
Summary: 2 Stars
The fourth installment of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series is a large and meandering work that I found difficult to finish. A 2007 survey of 4,000 Britons ranked Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire #2 among unfinished fiction (32% claimed that they could not get through it). And so, I don't feel alone in feeling that Goblet of Fire is probably the least successful of the first four Harry Potter books.
I would like to point out some good qualities of the book. First, Rowling introduces her young readers to a psychological narrative. Harry's internal struggles come to the forefront of this novel and are presented believably and with care. Hermione's political awakening seems inevitable, and it gives her an identity that is free to develop without comparison to Harry. Ron emerges as one of the best written of Rowling's characters. Unlike Hermione, and certainly unlike Harry, Ron is unable to distinguish himself from the masses. He is so achingly average in every way that his jealousy of his brothers and Harry comes across as more interesting than Harry's problems. Sure, Harry has to deal with the worst person in the world, but heroes as overrated and over written. Ron's struggles are normal struggles that every kid must deal with. Harry is one in a million. Ron is nine hundred thousand in a million.
The addition of romance and hormones was also a good and necessary inclusion. I don't think Rowling writes enough about teen life and sex, but she did at least breach the issue. I thought the Tri-Wizard Tournament was a more interesting plot anchor than Quidditch. In the Tournament, the students use what they learn in school to succeed. Quidditch doesn't seem to have a point beyond physical fitness.
Now, however, I must record some grievances. While I think Rowling has good intentions when she brings in characters from foreign cultures, the foreigners are locked into unimaginative stereotypes. The stuck-up, easily offended French school and the aloof and cool Eastern European school are recognizable as stock, exotic character types.
The plot and subplots of Goblet of Fire are simply all over the place. There are too many facts and events that are withheld from the reader. And I got tired of all of the unbelievable coincidences. This kind of manufactured dramatic tension is annoying, to say the least, but that isn't the worst trick Rowling pulls on the reader. When I got to the end, I was angered that the character I liked the most didn't actually exist. I nearly stopped reading at that point.
And could Voldemort be a more boring nemesis for Harry? Once again, Rowling recycles the old Scooby Doo style of plot revelation where the bad guy tells the meddling kids how his plan worked. And Voldemort talks a LOT. The last few chapters are almost entirely comprised of characters imparting information to the reader. Somehow, Dumbledore knows everything in the end (once again), but he doesn't know it when it would have done Harry some good.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is an unnecessary tome of mediocrity. I didn't learn anything more about Harry, and what's worse, I'm starting not to care. I come to the fifth book reluctantly.
Book Review: Deep, rich and complex; Potter has come so far.
Summary: 5 Stars
By far the thickest of the four, as of Jan 2002, I carefully predictthat the thickness shall not increase as the series progresses.
Contrary to the complaints of most critics about the size of the book,
I submit that Rowling is now writing to her dedicated readers, and is
not trying to draw in new fans with this work. We demand this
progression.
All things aside this is the deepest, richest and broadest book in the
series. We are once more introduced to new storylines and dimensions,
a hallmark of the previous books. As I mentioned in my previous
reviews, storylines that were developed in the first three books pass
through this volume and on towards the future.
The return of the Dark Lord is an almost welcome event at this
juncture, partially because a confrontation was inevitable and also due
to the fact that the fate of Harry is ultimately tied up with his
nemesis. Their symbiotic relationship can only result in one outcome;
an endless struggle for power and dominance over each other.
New dimensions of the wizard world continue to unfold with brilliant
elements like Portkeys (for instant teleportation), the Quidditch World
Cup (a natural evolution of the favorite wizarding sport) and the
TriWizard Tournament (a fantastic new competition). The introduction
of other wizarding schools broadens the scope of Rowling's world by
several magnitudes, and so she continues to amaze us as she peels away
curtains, revealing more of her imagination.
The most important element introduced in the series thus far, in my
humble opinion, is the wizard discipline of Auror. In the past I found
myself grumbling at the ravages and madness of the Dark Wizards. Every
misdeed and crime they committed made me wonder if there was no
organized resistance to the evil.
When the Auror Mad-Eye Moody appears for the first time, I almost
cheered. He represents a breed of wizard that dedicate their entire
lives to the pursuit, capture and even destruction of Dark Wizards. I
feel that without such sacrifice and focus, evil would certainly have
the upper hand over good.
It was certainly heartening to me when Moody recommends this lonely and
agonizing path to Harry. I believe this is the most likely path for
our champion, given the struggles he has endured with Dark Magic since
his birth. I don't wish him pain and suffering, but the stuff his soul
is made of suggests he would not find peace unless he tried the hardest
he could to right wrongs in the world around him.
As always, our heroes continue to grow and mature. We are certainly
seeing the blossoming of romances and other higher aspirations.
Brought many smiles to my face.
The staggering conclusion, and the gravity of the events to follow in
book five, make me wonder how will our heroes survive this? It seems
that the lines are being drawn for cruel and ruthless War between good
and evil. People are taking sides, and who knows if Harry, Hermione
and Ron will have the strength, courage, wisdom and vision to survive?
Thus the last chapter is titled - The Beginning.
Book Review: Delightful- the hype was mostly justified
Summary: 5 Stars
This 30-something mom felt it was well worth the time and almost totally lived up to the hype. The sense of fun and place, full and interesting characters, quirky details, and interlocking mysteries (large and small) are still there. Added are new characters, dimensions and adventures for Harry and others, a sense of the larger wizarding world, and hints of struggles to come. I read it at one stretch and it didn't seem long. It's age appropriate but with much to offer grups as well. The only caveats are a wish for less artificiality in the way Harry gets historical information, and a little more first-person sharing of what's going on in Ron's and Hermione's heads when they're undergoing struggles and life changes.
The Dursleys are a challenge but Harry gets around them with his growing understanding, and soon Harry is off to the Weasley's. No Diagon Alley this time (Mom does the shopping <sigh>): he gets World Cup quidditch and the mysterious aftermath. The quidditch match at the beginning was very detailed.
Once school starts there are many familiar elements but also twists. I laughed out loud several times during the early sections but after that it was somewhat less prankish than past books. The Triwizard Tournament soon begins and Harry is included though he is underage and another champion from Hogwarts is already chosen. Though wondering about motives he is bound by the rules to participate. The competition include lots of exciting and suspenseful activities, so the quidditch wasn't missed.
Harry's relationship with Ron goes up and down but Hermione remains steadfast. In the end they are a team, but there are times of doubt and pain. There's a continuing sense of Harry feeling separate from the rest of the world that's sometimes due to events and sometimes regular pre-teen stuff kids will likely identify with. The mysteries grow and we learn more about characters and relationships, deepening understanding of previous events and foreshadowing the future. For example, his patience toward the hapless Neville seems in books 1&2 merely nearness or decency, but in book 3 we see parallels in his father's friendship with Pettigrew (aka Wormtail and Scabbers). Then in book 4 we and Harry learn more about Neville's family tragedy and begin to see him differently. Though little is done with it here I expect more top come. These bits are not always separated out so you have to pay attention- the suspenseful action is sometimes a little distracting, so a second read-through helps more background and clues stick.
The much ballyhooed romance is just dawning, and I was glad. He is still a little young for more than a crush. It and many other events give us hints of the man Harry is shaping up to be, and for the most part he is something to be proud of- though patches of stubbornness remain to grow out of.
There are several deaths but mostly "off screen." None are gory. One is a known but not central student, and though Harry's reaction was delayed it was proportional. The ending had unanticipated elements, but logical once explained. My advice- remember things are seldom entirely what they seem in the magical world.
Book Review: Delightful- the hype was mostly justified
Summary: 5 Stars
This 30-something mom felt it was well worth the time and almost totally lived up to the hype. The sense of fun and place, full and interesting characters, quirky details, and interlocking mysteries (large and small) are still there. Added are new characters, dimensions and adventures for Harry and others, a sense of the larger wizarding world, and hints of struggles to come. I read it at one stretch and it didn't seem long. It's age appropriate but with much to offer grups as well. The only caveats are a wish for less artificiality in the way Harry gets historical information, and a little more first-person sharing of what's going on in Ron's and Hermione's heads when they're undergoing struggles and life changes.
The Dursleys are a challenge but Harry gets around them with his growing understanding, and soon Harry is off to the Weasley's. No Diagon Alley this time (Mom does the shopping <sigh>): he gets World Cup quidditch and the mysterious aftermath. The quidditch match at the beginning was very detailed.
Once school starts there are many familiar elements but also twists. I laughed out loud several times during the early sections but after that it was somewhat less prankish than past books. The Triwizard Tournament soon begins and Harry is included though he is underage and another champion from Hogwarts is already chosen. Though wondering about motives he is bound by the rules to participate. The competition include lots of exciting and suspenseful activities, so the quidditch wasn't missed.
Harry's relationship with Ron goes up and down but Hermione remains steadfast. In the end they are a team, but there are times of doubt and pain. There's a continuing sense of Harry feeling separate from the rest of the world that's sometimes due to events and sometimes regular pre-teen stuff kids will likely identify with. The mysteries grow and we learn more about characters and relationships, deepening understanding of previous events and foreshadowing the future. For example, his patience toward the hapless Neville seems in books 1&2 merely nearness or decency, but in book 3 we see parallels in his father's friendship with Pettigrew (aka Wormtail and Scabbers). Then in book 4 we and Harry learn more about Neville's family tragedy and begin to see him differently. Though little is done with it here I expect more top come. These bits are not always separated out so you have to pay attention- the suspenseful action is sometimes a little distracting, so a second read-through helps more background and clues stick.
The much ballyhooed romance is just dawning, and I was glad. He is still a little young for more than a crush. It and many other events give us hints of the man Harry is shaping up to be, and for the most part he is something to be proud of- though patches of stubbornness remain to grow out of.
There are several deaths but mostly "off screen." None are gory. One is a known but not central student, and though Harry's reaction was delayed it was proportional. The ending had unanticipated elements, but logical once explained. My advice- remember things are seldom entirely what they seem in the magical world.
Book Review: Rite of Passage
Summary: 5 Stars
Children's literature tends to be the great equalizer: if a book is good, really good, when you're a kid, it will stand up to repeated readings throughout your life. J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter series has managed to captivate adults and children alike, so much so that the advance publicity for the fourth volume--HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE--has achieved epic proportions. Could ANY book live up to all the hype? In this case, the answer is: Yes. The story begins as the now 14-year-old Harry weathers another summer with his hated and hateful relations, the Dursleys, and eagerly looks forward to the Quidditch World Cup, to which he has been invited by his best friend, Ron Weasley. But Harry and the Weasleys soon have more on their minds than wizard sports: a series of bizarre and frightening events unfold at the match that prove to have lasting repercussions for all who attended. Back at Hogwarts for his fourth year, Harry soon learns of another surprise--namely, the Triwizard Tournament, a magical contest that is to take place between Hogwarts and two more wizarding schools. Three champions, one chosen from each school by the Goblet of Fire, compete against each other in feats of magical skill and daring. Owing to the high risk factor involved, however, Headmaster Dumbledore has decreed that only students 17 and older may submit their names for contention as school champion. An intrigued Harry looks forward to watching the excitement from the sidelines, along with pals Ron and Hermione. But on the day that the champions are to be chosen, the Goblet of Fire spits out the name of an unprecedented fourth champion: Harry Potter. Shocked and more than a little alarmed by this surprise development, Harry now finds himself competing against much older students, who regard him with scorn and hostility, facing the jealousy of his peers (including Ron), and ultimately, fighting not only for school honor but for his very life. HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE has rightly been referred to as a pivotal installment in the series, for it is in this volume that Harry makes the transition from child to adolescent. Besides the Triwizard Tournament and the complications it brings to his life, Harry is also contending with the problems of any normal teenage boy, such as the onset of puberty and unrequited first love. School continues to present its own challenges--the animosity between Harry and Potions Professor Severus Snape remains undiminished--and, as rumored, the death of a major character casts a shadow over Harry's life, even as it clarifies the ordeal that awaits him in the future: a final confrontation with the evil wizard, Lord Voldemort. A darker book than its predecessors (though still possesing its trademark humor), GOBLET OF FIRE tackles weightier themes adroitly and with sensitivity. J. K. Rowling's writing seems to have matured, along with her young hero. Put this volume (after a satisfactory number of re-readings) on the shelf beside its precursors and wait in eager expectation for the fulfillment that is to come.